The Evolution Of Barber Tools

Last week we covered the history of barbering. This time around we’re going to take a look at the evolution of barber tools, and just how much they’ve changed over the years. Modern day barbers can create men’s hairstyles using electric clippers, razor-sharp cutting instruments and quality styling products. However, it hasn’t always been this way. Back in the Bronze Age, razors were made of stone rather than steel. Can you imagine trying to get a good clean shave from something hand-carved out of a rock? By the time of the Roman Empire, razors had began to modernise; they were designed like a half-moon at first, before eventually taking on the shape of a straight razor, a tool many traditional barbers still use today.

Bronze age- Razor blades carved from stone.

Vintage Straight Razors. The razor isn’t the only barber tool that has evolved over time. The smooth and precise nature of modern electric clippers is a far cry from what they used to be. Before electricity came along, hair clippers were manually operated. They were designed with a pair of handles that barbers had to squeeze together and release, picking up tufts of hair and trimming it right down to the scalp, one section at a time. It’s easy to see why buzz cuts weren’t the most popular hairstyle back in the day.